Damper control



April 5, 193s. A. D. QLE 2,113,440

DAMPER CONTROL Filed March 28, 1954 5 Sheets-SheetI 1' i I f y 55 Pf@ 5226 8o 8217/ i; $4/ H H`- 55 l "55 '51 i4 /O z2 `L- 42 Y V f 5o Z1 f Y2K?? H 1 w ,4.7

Arthur D. Cole @Hoc/MAW A. D. COLE DAMPER CONTROL Api-il 5, 1938.

Filgd Marchas, 1954 5 sheets-sheet 2 A. D. COLE DAMPER CONTROL April 5,1938.

5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed March 28, 1934 April-5, 193s.

K A. D. coLE DAMPER CONTROL Filed Mami 28, 1934 5 sheet-sheet 4April5,193s. A COLE f 2,113,440

DAMPER CONTROL Filed March 28, 1934 I 5 sheets-sheet 5 Fig 9 Arthur D.Cole 'A Patented Apr. 5, 1938 UNITED STATES DAMPER CONTROL Arthur D.Cole, Minneapolis, Minn.

Application March 28,

9 Claims.

My invention relates to damper controls and particularly to a controlwhich may be utilized as a draft regulator.

Another object of the invention resides in providing a damper controloperated through a separate pressure responsive device connected withthe smoke pipe in which the damper is installed.

A still further Object of the. invention resides in providing a draftregulator by means of which the draft in the smoke pipe of a heatingplant may be regulated Without admission of air from the exterior andinto the smoke pipe.

An object of the invention resides in providing a draft regulator inwhich the regulation of the draft is procured by throttling the flow offlue gases passing through the smoke pipe.

Another object of the invention resides in providing -a `damper controlutilizing a vane operable in a manner similar to a piston and cylinderand controlling the operation of the A damper.

An object of the invention resides in providing a case disposed adjacentthe pipe in which the damper is situated. said case having a chambertherein communicating at one locality with the pipe andv at anotherlocality with the exterior and in which the vane is movable.

Another object of the invention resides in constructing said case with acircular vvall and with segmental walls and in pivoting said van'e tosaidcase at the axis of said circular wall, said vane extending acrossthe space between said Walls and substantially closing communicationbetween the exterior and the passageway in said D1De An object of theinvention Iresides in providing a shaft extending into the chamber insaid case and in supporting both said damper and said' vane from saidshaft.

A still further object of the invention resides in providing a frameextending about said pipe and case for supporting said case relative tosaid pipe.

A feature of the invention resides in providing said frame with bearingsin which said shaft is journaled.

An object of the invention resides in constructing the damper control asa single unit capable of being applied to' a s'moke pipe after erectionof the smoke pipe and Without the necessty of substituting a new lengthof pipe for any of the existing lengths of pipe.

Other objects of the invention reside in the novel combination andarrangement of parts and 1934.,Y serial No. 717,733 (ol. 236-45) in thedetails of construction hereinafter illustrated and/or described.

In the drawings:-

Fig. 1 is an elevational vievir of a boiler and smoke pipe thereforillustrating anembodiment of my invention applied thereto.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a part of the smoke pipe shown in Fig. 1with the damper control applied thereto. y

Fig. 3 is an elevational view of the structure shownv in Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is an elevational sectional view similar to Fig. 3 and taken online 4 4 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a plan sectional view taken on line 5 5 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a cross sectional view taken on line 6-6 of Fig. 2.

' Fig. '7 is a'fragmentary elevational sectional view taken on line 1--1of Fig. 3 and drawn to a Ilarger scale.

Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 2 of a modification of the invention. yI

Fig. 9 is a cross sectional view taken on line 9 9 of Fig. 8 and showingthe parts in altered position.

Where heating plants are heated by oil or gas varying draft conditionscause improper combustion with the result of marked inefliciency.Regulation of draft has been attempted through pressure responsivedevices admitting air into the smoke pipe, but such devices have certainundesirable characteristics. In the first place heated air from thebuilding in which the heating plant lis installed is utilized whichcauses loss of heat from the building as well as the cooling of thestack. Secondly, such devices do not function the same under alldraftconditions and accurate control hence cannot be had. The presentinvention `provides a device by means of which the draft may beregulated through the control of a damper Without admission of air tothe smoke pipe from the room in which'the heating plant is installed andin which accurate regulation may bew procured regardless `of draftconditions.

For the purpose of illustrating my invention, I have shown in Fig. 1 ahot Water boiler I0 of ordinary construction. This boiler is installedin a building having a basement l, and a room 8 4to be heated, saidboiler being situated in the basement. The first floor of'the buildingis designated by the reference numeral 9 and in cludes the usual joists32. 'IheY boiler I0 comprises the usual fire pot section Il, an ash pitsection I2 and a dome I3.

The fire pot section II is constructed with a fire door I4, a slice doorI5 and the ash pit I2 is constructed with an ash door I1. The dome I3 isprovided with a smoke outlet |8 to which the usual smoke pipe I9 isattached, which smoke pipe leads to the chimney of the building in whichthe heating plant is installed. Inasmuch as the construction of theboiler and the method of connecting the same to the radiators'of thebuilding forms no particular feature of the invention, the same have notbeen disclosed in this application. However, it can readily becomprehended that any suitable method may be used for installing theboiler and the same may be employed in any of the variousheating-systems such as are now in common use.

For further illustrating the application of my invention, I have .shownthe boiler as fired through a gas burner 20 which is provided with a gaspipe 2| for feeding fuel to the same and with a fuel pipe 22 deliveringthe fuel mixture into the re pot of the boiler. The gas pipe 2| isprovided with a valve 23 by means of 4which the ow of gas to the burnercan be controlled for the purpose of maintaining the temperature of theroom 8 constant.

For controlling the operation of the boiler I0 a thermostat 24 isemployed which is installed in room 8 and which is connected by threewires 25 with a suitable heat regulator 26. Heat regulator 26 is merelyillustrated diagrammatically though it can readily be comprehended thatany suitable type of regulator may be employed. 'I'he form of heatregulator illustrated includes two cranks 21 and 28 which are adapted tobe rotated through degrees during each operation of the thermostat 24.Said regulator is provided with a base 3| and is supported through saidbase in the following manner: Attached to one of the joists 32 of thefloor 9 of the building in which the heating plant is installed is aboard 33 which projects downwardly past the smoke pipe I9. This board isprovided near its lower end with a shelf 34 which is supported on saidboard through brackets 35. The base 3| of heat regulator 26 rests uponthe shelf 34 and is secured thereto in any suitable manner.

The crank 28 of heat regulator 26 is connected through a chain or cord29 with a lever 30 on the valve 23 by means of which said valve maybeloperated when the crank 28 rotates. When the crank 28 is in theposition shown in Fig. 1', valve 23 is open and gas is being supplied tothe burner 20. When the crank 28 is rotated to its opposite position,valve 23 is closed and the burner is shut off.

'I'he form of my invention shown in Figs. 1 to 7 includes a length ofpipe 36 which is installed in the smoke pipe I9 and which takes theplace of one of the usual lengths of pipe ordinarily employed in saidsmoke pipe. The passageway through this pipe is designated by thenumeral 40. The length of pipe is provided near its cen-` 2 and 3 andtheupper portion thereof, designated at 46, is left open. 'Ihe lower partof the case is constructed with a conduit 41 which is connected tothepipe 36 and which brings the chamber 39 into communication withpassageway 40 through the opening 31. 'I'his conduit consists of upperand lower walls 48 and. and an end wall 56. These various walls extendup to the circular portion 4| of the case and also up to the pipe properand are attached thereto through screws 85.

For-the purpose of holding the case 38 securely attached to the pipesection 36, a frame 5| is employed. This frame is constructed of a barof iron bent in the form of a rectangle to provide upper and lowerreaches 52 and 53 and end reaches 54 and 55 connected thereto. The endsof the frame 5| may be spliced along either of the reaches 52 or 53 andmay be welded or otherwise secured together. 'I'he reach 52 extendsacross the upper portion of the pipe 36 and the case 38. This reach ofthe frame is attached to the upper edge of the circular wall 42 ofportion 4| of case 38 through screws 56. Said reach is similarlyattached to the pipe section 36 through a screw 51. The reach 53 offrame 5| is likewise attached to the lowermost portion of the circularwall 42 of case 38 through screws 58 and to the lowermost part of thepipe section 36 through a screw 59. By means of these screws the frame5| is rigidly secured to the structure forming the case 38 and the pipesection 36 and the said parts are securely held together.

It will be noted that the reach 55 of frame 5| is spaced from the endwall 43 of portion 4| of case 38. This is for a purpose toA be presentlydescribed in detail. The two reaches 54 and 55 of frame 5| have securedto them bearings 60 and 6| which are provided with threads 62 threadedinto the said reaches. Bearing 6| is shownin detail in Fig. '1 and isprovided at its inner end with a conical socket 63. A shaft 64 extendsthrough the passageway 48 in pipe section 36 and chamber 39 in case 38,the said shaft being provided at its ends with conical trunnions 65journaled in the sockets 63 of bearings 60 and 6|. By means of thisconstruction the shaft 64 is supported for swinging movement and in amanner to involve a minimum amount of friction.

Within the passageway 40 of pipe section 36 is disposed a damper 66which consists of two semicircular sheets of metal 61 and 68 arranged inoverlying position at the diametral edges thereof. 'Ihe marginalportions of said sheets of metal at the diagonal edges are provided withgrooves 69 which receive the shaft 64 and are bolted together throughbolts 10 to hold the two parts of the damper in proper position and tosecurely attach the same to the shaft 64. By rotating the shaft 64 thedamper 66 may be brought to a position such, as shown in Fig. 6 in whichthe passageway 40 through the smoke pipe 36 is open or the same may beturned through angular positions as shown in Fig. 3 until the saiddamper completely obstructs the flow of gas through said smoke pipe.

The shaft 64 extends along the inner edge of `the wall 48 of conduit 41of case 36 and lies parallel with the reach 52 of frame 5| and is alsodisposed along the axis of the circular wall 42 of the portion 4I ofsaid case. 'I'he shaft has attached to it a vane 1| constructed of sheet,metal, which vane is best shown in Fig. 4. Vane 1I: is provided at itsinner end with a part 12 bent around the shaft 64 and clamped to said ofcase 38 is arranged vertically as shown in Figs. shaft through bolts 13which pass through the 75 adjacent parts of said vane. 'Ihe vane 1| tssnugly between the end walls 43 and 44 of the portion 4| of case 38 andalso follows along the -all positions clear the various walls of thecase in which the same is situated and so that a minimum amount of spaceexists between the edges of said vane and said walls. It :can readily becomprehended from Fig. 4 that one surface of the vane 1| is exposed tothe exterior through the opening 46 in the portion 4| of case 38 andthat the other surface of said vane is exposed to the passageway 40through the passageway in the-conduit 41 and the chamber 39 in theportion 4| of case 38. .Vane 1| operates in the manner of a piston, theportion 4| of case 38 serving as a cylinder and mayl travel from oneposition to the other within said cylinder as illustrated in the variousviews of the drawings. By properly counterbalancing the Vane and damperthesaid vane can be caused to move within the portion 4| of case 38through variations in pressure occasioned by variations in the draft inthe passageway 40 of the smoke pipe I9.

On the end of the shaft 64 and between the end wall 43 ofthe case andthe reach 55 of frame 5| is provided a sheave 14. which is constructedwith a boss 15. A set screw 85 is screwed into this boss and serves tchold the sheave 14 attached to the said shaft. The boss 15 is furtherthreaded to receive a rod 16' which extends outwardly .therefrom. Thisrod is also threaded at the outer end thereof and has screwed upon it acounter-weight 11 by means of which the weight of the vane 1| maybecounterbalanced. Attached to the sheave 14 is a cord or chain 18 whichis provided at its lower end with a hook 19. A weight 80 may be securedto the end of the cord 18 through the hook 19. By the selection of theproper weight, any desired draft can be procured.

'I'he operation of the invention is as follows:

When a certain draft is desired, a weight ofA suitable dimensions isplaced on the hook 19.-

If the suction within the portion of the passageway 40 in advance ofdamper 66 increases beyond the degree for which the weight 80 isselected, then the said suction causes the vane 1| to move from itsposition shown in Fig. 4 to 4an intermediate position, such as shown inFig. 3. This causes the rotation of the damper 66. The damper 66 onbeing moved toward` closing position, throttles the flow of flue gasesthrough the smoke pipe I9 andthereby reduces the suction in th'e saidpipe, in advance of the damper. As

' soon as the desired draft has been procured suction on the innersurface of the vane 1| is equalized through the weight 80. If the draftdecreases, then the weight pulls the vane 1I back to such a positionthat the throttlng effect of the damperV 86 is suiciently reduced toallow sufficient flue gas to pass through the smoke pipe. When thisoccurs the `desired degree of draft is reestablished. In this manner,the draft in the smoke pipe is maintained constant and isi.automatically adjusted regardless of the draft in the chimney to whichthe smoke pipe is connected.

In the type of gas burner illustrated, the valve 23 is used to controlthe fuel supply to theburner in accordance with the temperature of theroom in Awhich the thermostat 24 is situated. When the burner isshutdown it becomes desirable to completely close the damper 66 toprevent the ow of cold air through the boiler and the resultant loss ofheat. For this purpose the crank 21 of the heat regulator is utilizedwhich is set at the same position as the crank 28. This crank hasattached to it a cord or lchain 8| whichis attached to the sheave 14 and-which passes over said sheave on the opposite side thereof to the cord18. When the heat regulator 26 operates in a manner to close the valve23, theY damper 66 is also closed and the flow of air'through the smokepipe prevented. y

y In Figs; 8 and 9 I have shown the damper and the damper control as asingle unit which may be applied to a smoke pipe after the same has beenerected and without removing or replacing any of the lengths of pipethereof.. This device will now be described in detail.

The construction shown in Figs. 8 and 9 includes a case which is formedupon the interior thereof with a chamber 86. Case 85 is constructwhichpassageway communicateswith the chamber 86` in said case. Duct 9|is'constructed with a front wall 93, a rear wall 94 and with a top and abottom 96 connected thereto. Oneend of the duct 9| is left' open asindicated at 98 and is connected to the smoke pipe 9 of the boilercommunicating therewith through an opening'fl in said smoke pipe. Theoth'errend of said duct is closed through an end wall 91 which in theform of the invention shown lies in continuation of the'end wall 88 ofsaid case 85.

The front wall 93 and the rear wall 94 of duct 9| are cut curved asdesignated at |00 to t about the exterior of the smoke pipe |9. Toprovide suitable bearing surfaces at such localities, anges |0| areprovided which extend outwardly from said walls at the outer endsthereof. A strap |02 is used for attaching the case 85 to7 the smokepipe- I9. This strap extends about the pipe |9 and is attached atitsends to the ends of the top 95 and bottom 96. For this purpose the lowerend of strap |02v is provided withan` eye |03. A tongue |04 formed' onthe end of the bottom 96 is hooked into this eye and `bent back as shownin Fig. 9 to hold the strap sccurely attached to case 85/"at the lowerend of the strap. The upper'endy of the strap is bent to form a flange|05 extending outwardly therefrom. An angle |06 constructed with anoutwardly extending ange |01l is attached to the end of the top 95 ofduct. 9| through rivets |08 which pass through the other flange |09 ofsaidangle. The anges |05 and |01 lie in spaced re,

lation when the device is 4assembled upon the smoke pipe. By means of abolt I0 which extends through both of said flanges the two flanges arebrought together and the band |02 drawn taut about the pipe I9 tosecurely attach the L entire device to the smoke pipe.

. follows:

Upon the exterior of case 85 and attached to .the end wall 88 thereof isa U-shaped frame member ||3, one leg 4 of which is attached to the saidwall 88 of the case. This is accomplished through rivets H5. The otherleg H6 of said frame is spaced from the wall 88. Upon the interior ofthe end wall 81 of case 85 is attached a bearing bar In which is formedwith4 a conical socket H8 situated at a locality coincident with thecenter of curvature of the curved wall 89 of said case. ,A shaft H8isformed with conical ends H9 and |20, the end H9 being pivoted in thesocket H8. The conical end |20 of this shaft is journaled in a socketedbear- 'ing |2| screwed into the leg H6 of frame H3.

The shaft H8 extends through the other leg H4 of said frame andthroughthe end wall 88 of the case 85. The vane H2 previously referred to isattached to this shaft which is accomplished in the same manner as theattachment of the vane 1| to shaft 64. The said vane is provided with aportion 'l2 which is bent around the shaft and which is clamped to the`vane proper through bolts |22.

The damper |H is constructed from a single piece of sheet metal cut tothe desired form. This damper is attached to the vane I2 through aU-shaped attaching member |23 which is constructed with two arms |24 and|25 and a connecting portion |26. Both the arms |24 and |25 are offsetas indicated at |21, the arm |24 being attached to the damper H byrivets |28 and the arm |25 being attached to the vane H2 through bolts|29. The connecting part |26 of the member |23 is so disposed as to liein close proximity to the axis of the shaft H8 whereby the same when thevane H2 is oscillated may travel in the passageway 96 of duct 9| and mayextend through the opening 99 of smoke pipe |9 and into the passagewaytherein. It will thus be `seen that the damper |H is supported throughfollows: 'I'he opening 99 is first cut in the smoke pipe, which openingextends circumferentially v,about the pipe for a distance somewhat lessthan one-half the circumferential extent thereof. This opening is of awidth substantially equal to the distance betweenthe front and rearwalls 93 and 94 of the duct 9|. has been cut the device is arranged withthe damper extending vertically which can be accomplished by exertingpressure upon the' vane H2. The said damper is then inserted into thesmoke pipe through the opening 99. After the damper is in positionwithin the smoke pipe strap |02 is applied and the bolt H0 placedthrough the two flanges |05 and |06 and the nut thereof tightened todraw the parts together and to hold the entire control device securelyattached to the smoke pipe. The connection of the cords or chainsassociated with sheave 14 is thereafter made and the device willfunction in identically the same manner as the device previously described.

My invention'is highly advantageous in that an extremely simple andpractical device is prol vided whereby a damper may be operated throughpressure responsive means in an extremely simple and positive manner.When the device is used as a draft regulator, no air flows from theexterior into the smoke pipe thereby After the hole economizing on theamount of fuel-used for heating purposes. The device when once setoperates automatically and requires no further attention.

there being no delicate or complicated parts to get out of adjustment.Differentdegrees of draft may be' procured by simply exchanging the'weight on the damper shaft. The same damper that is used for controllingthe draft may also be used for completely shutting off the draft whenthe gas or oil burner is shut off.

Changes in the specific form of my invention, as` herein disclosed, maybe made within the scope of what is claimed without departing from thespirit of my invention.

Having describedmy invention, what I claim as new and desire to protectby Letters Patent is:

l. In combination with a smoke pipe having a slot therein formed withparallel circumferential edges, a case having twospaced parallel wallsformed with circular edges of the same diameter as the pipe and adaptedto engage the pipe upon the exterior thereof and outwardly of thecircumferential edges of the slot, mea'ns extending about said pipe andengaging said case for holding the case attached to the pipe, a damperwithin the pipe, a movable vane within the case, and means connectingsaid damper with said vane so that said damper is operated by said vane.

2. In combination with a smoke pipe having a slot therein formed withparallel circumferential edges, a case having two spaced parallel wallsformed with circular edges of the same diameter as the pipe and adaptedto engage the pipe upon the exterior thereof and outwardly of thecircumferential edges of the slot, said case further having wallsdisposed between said last named walls and at right angles thereto,means extending about the pipe and issuing from said last named wallsfor holding the case attached to the pipe,

a damper within the pipe, a movable vane within the case, and meansconnecting said damper with said vane so that said damper is operated bythe vane.

3. In combination with a smoke pipe having a narrow circumferential slottherein, a case, a neck connected to the case and provided with closelyspaced parallel walls adapted to lie in close proximity to the edges ofsaid slot, a movable vane mounted in said case and a pivoted damperdisposed within the smoke pipe and partly within the limits of said neckand means connecting said damper and said vane so that said damper isoperated by said vane, said damper being movable in one positionparallel with the parallel walls of the neck to facilitate insertion Yofthe damper into the smoke pipe through said slot.

4. In combination with a smoke pipe having an opening therein, a unitarydraft regulator for' application tothe smoke pipe, said regulatorcomprising a case, a movable vane Within said case, a neck connected tosaid case, said neck having two walls formed with arcuate edges adaptedto fit against the smoke pipe, said neck covering the opening in thesmoke pipe,^and a circular damper disposed within said smoke pipe inproximity to said neck and supported for movement relative thereto, thecircular edge of said damper being substantially concentric with thearcuate edge of one of said walls when the damper is in one position,and means connecting said damper with said vane so lthat said damper isoperated by said vane.

5. In combination with a smoke pipe having an 75 l -the smoke pipe andcover the opening in the smoke pipe, and a circular damper disposedWithin said smoke pipe in proximity to said part of the case andsupported for movement relative thereto, the circular edge of saiddamper being substantially concentric with the circular edge of one ofsaid walls when the damper4 is in one position, and means connectingsaid damper with said vane so that said damper is operated by said vane.

6. In combination with a cylindrical pipe having a semi-circular openingtherein and formed with parallel circumferential edges bounding saidopening and with edges extending along substantially diametrally opposedelements of said pipe and also bounding said opening, a draft regulatorincluding a case having a part adapted to t about the pipe and coveringsaid opening, a damper disposed within said smoke pipe in proxlmity tosaid part and projecting outwardly therefrom, said damper beingsupported for movement relative to the case, and in one position beingparallel with the planes of the circumferential edges of 'the opening inthe pipe and disposed between the same for facilitating insertion of thedamper into the pipe, and means for holding the caseattached to thepipe.

7. In combination with a cylindrical pipe having a semi-circular openingtherein and formed with parallel circumferential edges bounding saidopening and with edges extending along substantially diametrally opposedelements of said pipe and also bounding said opening, a draft regulatorincluding a case having a part adapted to fit about the pipe andcovering said opening, a shaft pivoted in said case and extendingdiametrally of the pipe, a damper disposed in proximity to said part ofthe case and extending outwardly therefrom, said damper being supportedby said shaft, a vane in said case subject to the pressure in said pipe,and means for connecting said vane to said shaft so that said damper isoperated by said'vane.

8. In combination with a cylindrical pipe having a semi-circular openingtherein and formed with parallel circumferential edges bounding saidopening and with edges extending along substantially diametrally opposedelements of said pipe and also bounding said opening, said last namededges being shorter than the diameter of the pipe, a case, a neckissuing from the case and attachable to the pipe in a manner to coverlsaid opening, said neck issuing from one side of the case, said caseoverlying the neck and being spaced therefrom, a damper extendingoutwardly from said neck and into the pipe, said damper beinginsertableinto the pipe through said opening, and a vane in said case, and meansconnecting said damper with said vane so that said damper is operated bysaid vane.

9. In combination with a cylindrical pipe having a semi-circular openingtherein Land formed with parallel circumferential edges bounding saidopening and with edges extending along subystantlally diametrallyopposed elements of `said pipe and also bounding said opening, said lastnamed edges being shorter than the diameter of the pipe, a draftregulator including a case having a part adapted to iit about the pipeand covering said opening, a damper disposed within said smoke pipe inproximity to said part and projecting outwardly therefrom, said damperbeing supported for movement relative to the case and in one positionbeing parallel with the planes of the circumferential edges of theopening in the pipe and disposed between the same, said second namededges of the opening being spaced apart a distance not less than thediameter of the damper, whereby the damper may be inserted into saidopening while the pipe is in position,

and means disposed exteriorly of the pipe for holding the case attachedto the pipe.

ARTHUR D. COLE.

